early game expansion tactics

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by Arryn:

quote:

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Originally posted by Patrik:
Final tip - use unoccupied commanders to attack the provinces you plan to conquer next. Have them in the back with retreat orders. Watching the battle replay will give you an exact account of the indep force.

Cool. This is the most useful tip I've seen in a while. Wish I'd thought of it myself ...

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Checking the indep strength is not its only use.

I'll never forget my first Dominions 1 demo game. One of the first independent provinces I conquered had a Harab Seraph wielding dual KotDs - and, guess what? my pretender picked one and my prophet the other. A bit later I encountered a Hoburg champion sporting a Lycanthropos amulet. And in the next battle I realized a Seraphine prophet with a KotD and a Lycanthropos amulet isn't really useful in a battle.

Now I routinely probe Hoburg and Harab indeps (among a few others) with a cheap commander before committing promising leaders.